504 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Seed exalbuminous, or nearly so ; embryo straight ; radicle 

 towards the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Undershrubs or smooth trees, with alternate, 

 simple, stipulate leaves. Flowers hypogynous, perfect, regular, 

 and symmetrical, with the pedicels articulated in the middle. 

 Calyx and corolla with usually a quinary distribution, imbricated, 

 the former persistent, the latter deciduous. Stamens hypo- 

 gynous, 5, 10, or numerous ; anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal 

 or porous dehiscence. Style simple, with minute stigmas. 

 Fruit consisting of a number of 1 -seeded, indehiscent, succulent 

 carpels, inserted on an enlarged fleshy disk. Seed with very 

 little or no albumen ; embryo straight, with the radicle towards 

 the hilum. 



Distribution, 8fc. — Natives chiefly of the tropical parts of 

 India, Africa, and America. Examples : — Gomphia, Ochna, 

 Godoya. There are 6 genera, and 82 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants are generally remarkable 

 for their bitterness. Some have been used as tonics and 

 astringents. Some, as Gomphia parvijlora, yield oil, which is 

 used in Brazil for salads. In their properties generally, the 

 Ochnaccifi much resemble the Simarubacese. 



Natural Order 62. Cokiarieace^. — The Coriaria Order. — 

 Diagnosis. — This name is given to an order which includes 

 but 1 genus, and 8 species ; its afiinities are by no means 

 understood. It appears to be most nearly related to Ochnaceas, 

 in which it agrees in having its carpels distinct, and placed on 

 an enlarged disk, or gynophore : but it is distinguished from 

 that order by its opposite leaves ; sometimes polygamous 

 flowers ; persistent fleshy petals ; absence of style ; and long 

 linear distinct stigmas. 



Distribution, 8fc. — Natives of the South of Europe, Chili, 

 Peru, New Zealand, and Nepaul. Example: — Coriaria. This 

 is the only genus ; it contains 8 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are generally 

 suspicious, as they have sometimes produced poisonous eflects. 

 The fruits of some, however, are edible, as Coriaria nepalensis, 

 a native of the north of India, and those of C sarmentosa, a na- 

 tive of New Zealand ; in the latter case, the pericarp is alone 

 eaten, the seeds being poisonous. The fruits of C. myrtifolia and 

 ruscifolia are very poisonous ; these plants have been employed 

 by dyers in tlie production of a black dye. The leaves of C. 

 myrtifolia have been used on the Continent to adulterate Senna 

 This is a most serious adul.tcration, as such leaves are poisonous. 

 They may be at once distinguished from Senna-leaves by their 

 two sides being equal and symmetrical at tlie base, while those 

 of Senna are unequal. Chemically they are also distinguished 

 from Senna, by their infusion producing a very abundant blue 

 precipitate on the addition of sulphate of iron. 



